The City of SeaTac is 10 square miles (26 km2) in area and has a population of 26,909 according to the 2010 census. The city boundaries surround the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (approximately 3 square miles (7.8 km2) in area), which is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle. The city includes the communities of Angle Lake, Bow Lake, McMicken Heights and Riverton Heights, which were established before the city's incorporation. Residents voted for incorporation on March 14, 1989,[5] and the city incorporated in February 1990.[6]

SeaTac is governed by a city council which consists of seven elected councilpersons. The city "has contracted with the King County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement since incorporation in 1990."[8] Deputies assigned to SeaTac wear city uniforms and drive patrol cars marked with the city logo. There are currently 51 patrol officers, detectives, and support staff assigned full-time to the city.[9]

In January of 2014 the SeaTac Fire Department entered a 20 year contract with Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority (RFA).[10][11] SeaTac's three fire stations, Station 45, 46, and 47, joined Kent's Station 73 to make up RFA's West Battalion.[12]

The SeaTac Municipal Court, located within the City Hall, is a court of limited jurisdiction. The judge is authorized by the Revised Code of Washington to preside over civil infractions, traffic infractions, criminal misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor violations, and civil orders for protection.[13]

Public Works is responsible for planning, design, construction and maintenance of streets, transportation improvements, surface water utility, and solid waste and recycling programs.[14]

In 2013, voters in the city narrowly passed a minimum wage of $15 per hour for employees of airport-related businesses such as hotels, parking lots and car rental agencies. In a later appeals court decision, the $15 minimum wage was reversed for employees working entirely on Port of Seattle property within the city limits but still applies to employees of airport-related businesses in the city proper.[7] Union workshops are exempt from the $15 minimum wage.[15]

The city is home to over 900 licensed businesses, nearly 80 of which are "Fortune 1000" companies. They employ nearly 40,000 employees in the City of SeaTac and generate local sales of approximately $3.7 billion.[19]

SeaTac’s Department of Community and Economic Development was formed in early 2011 to create a one-stop permitting center, increase the level of service and assist in the facilitation of economic development by creating a more cohesive approach to real estate development and job creation. The new Department has four divisions: Economic Development, Planning, Engineering Review, and Building Services.[20] In 2013, the City of SeaTac Proposition No. 1 passed with 50.64% of the vote[26] to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.[27]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.21 square miles (26.44 km2), of which, 10.03 square miles (25.98 km2) is land and 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2) is water.[1]

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $41,202, and the median income for a family was $47,630. Males had a median income of $34,396 versus $28,984 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,717. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

There were 9,533 households of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.38.

The median age in the city was 34.5 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 9.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

Elementary schools serving sections of the city include Bow Lake Elementary School in SeaTac,[34] Madrona Elementary School in SeaTac,[35] McMicken Heights Elementary School in SeaTac,[36] and Cedarhurst Elementary School in Burien.[37][38] Most residents are zoned to Chinook Middle School and Tyee Educational Complex in the city,[39] while some are zoned to Sylvester Middle School and Highline High School in Burien.[40]

Tyee Educational Complex houses The Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment,[41][42] and Odyssey: The Essential School.[43]

In 2004, Highline Public Schools reorganized some of its high schools, including Tyee, into having smaller programs on larger campuses.[44]

The city operates seven city parks and operates two community center facilities.[46][47]

Angle Lake Park, a 10.5-acre (42,000 m2)[citation needed] park at Angle Lake, has a barbecue area, a boat launch, a fishing pier, playground equipment, an open recreation area, swimming facilities, a stage, toilet facilities, and a spray park. In the swimming area lifeguards are on duty during the summer months.[47]